Australia: Tomatoes
cited for hepatitis

A NATIONAL food contamination alert has been issued
after South Australian health authorities linked a semi-dried tomato product
to a surge in hepatitis A cases.

The authorities yesterday said there had been a spike in hepatitis A
cases in Queensland, Victoria and South Australia since late March.

The three states last night warned consumers not to eat semi-dried
tomatoes purchased loose and unpackaged from supermarkets, independent stores
and cafes.

South Australian wholesaler Siena Foods was yesterday recalling its
semi-dried tomatoes in oil with garlic and herbs from stores.

Michael Mercuri, a spokesman for the family-owned company, said it
received its product from interstate suppliers and sold it direct to
retailers, including Foodland supermarkets. "We are just the middle
man," he said.

South Australian public health director Kevin Buckett yesterday said 26
people in South Australia had contracted hepatitis A during the past two
months, a significant spike given there had been only 19cases last year and
five in 2007.

More than 70 people in Victoria had contracted hepatitis A during the
same period, he said. Victoria's Human Services Department yesterday said the
number of cases this year was more than double that at the same time last
year.

SA Health epidemiologists and food investigators this month linked the
increase of hepatitis A cases in the three states to the contamination of the
Siena product, which is packaged in Victoria and possibly Queensland.

"Investigations are continuing and the advice we are getting from
epidemiology is the outbreak is ongoing," Dr Buckett said yesterday.
"A national incident response process has been triggered."

Acting South Australian Health Minister Jane Lomax-Smith said the SA
Health scientists had identified the hepatitis A spike sooner than it was
recognised in other parts of the country. "They've done a brilliant job
in recognising the cause and how it occurred," she said.

"They have worked very closely with officers in other states to make
sure there can be a co-ordinated response to this spike in infection, and I
am very confident the matter will be brought under control."

Victoria's acting Chief Health Officer Rosemary Lester yesterday said the
states were being cautious.

Hepatitis A is spread when traces of fecal matter containing the virus
contaminate hands, objects, water or food and are then taken in orally.
Symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, fever, chills and jaundice.

Ms Lester said the links between the semi-dried tomatoes product and a
recent increase in hepatitis A in Victoria were still under investigation.

"In the interest of public health, we are therefore advising people
not to purchase or consume loose semi-dried tomatoes -- in oil with herbs and
garlic -- from stores," she said. "If you have these products at
home, you should throw them out.

"We are also working with the Victorian manufacturers to remove this
product from these stores across Victoria."

Queensland Health acting Chief Health Officer Aaron Groves said the state
was investigating the possible contamination. He said 10 cases of hepatitis A
had been reported in Queensland since April.